Malaysian flag displayed beside Singapore flag outside Yishun HDB flat
A TikTok video shows a Malaysian flag displayed alongside a Singapore flag outside an HDB flat. According to Singapore's National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, displaying foreign flags or emblems in public without authorisation is an offence.
SINGAPORE: A TikTok video has recently gone viral, capturing a curious display of national flags outside a ground-floor Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, supposedly in Yishun.
The six-second clip, uploaded on August 10, shows a Malaysian flag placed side by side with a Singapore flag.
Additionally, Singapore flags were seen adorning the corridors of the second, third, and fourth floors of the HDB block.
The video has sparked a mixed response online, with some viewers urging the local Town Council to take action, citing that it is an offence to display a foreign national flag in Singapore without proper authorization.
The display of the flags has led to speculation that the resident might have hung both flags in recognition of the proximity of Singapore's National Day on August 9 and Malaysia's National Day on August 31.
https://www.tiktok.com/@thesgdaily/video/7401385503183998215?embed_source=121374463%2C121451205%2C121439635%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_fullscreen&refer=embed&referer_url=mothership.sg%2F2024%2F08%2Fsingapore-malaysia-flags-yishun%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawEni7lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUOJ7WZEH4ONpPLiYUGM9KQhW0oOc-hgDvZZkpb55bRZIzzqEmUpH27cOQ_aem_74Z25hSGvjd2habH8hDenQ&referer_video_id=7401385503183998215
This incident is not the first time the display of a foreign flag in an HDB estate has drawn attention.
In August 2019, Choa Chu Kang Town Council lodged a police report after a Chinese national flag was displayed at an HDB block.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a strict reminder that the display or wearing of foreign national emblems, particularly those related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, is an offence without a permit.
According to Singapore's National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, the unauthorized display of foreign flags is illegal.
The law states that any person who displays a foreign flag, or any owner, tenant, lessee, occupier, or person in charge of premises who knowingly permits the display of such flags, can be prosecuted.
Those found guilty of violating this law can face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to S$500, or both.
Exceptions to this rule are made for accredited diplomatic or consular representatives of foreign powers to Singapore, provided they have received authorization from the Government.
Additionally, the Minister has the authority to issue permits or orders allowing the display of foreign flags under specified conditions and for limited periods.
